Summer vibes on the Volga River (PHOTOS)

Russia’s main river flows through the whole country and, in summer, an active, bustling life emerges around it!

The ‘Golden Ring’ tourist route is concentrated around the Volga River. And its main city, the beautiful Yaroslavl, stands on the spit of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers.

Alexei Kudenko / Sputnik
Alexei Kudenko / Sputnik

The cute little town of Myshkin comes to life in the summer, as cruise ships pass by there.

Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik
Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik

Even if you don't like swimming, you should definitely wet your feet in the Volga, which is always cool, even in the heat. In the photo below, a girl is sitting on the bank of the Volga in the Republic of Tatarstan.

Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik
Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik

In recent years, the small town of Rybinsk has become very popular, in which all the street signs in the historical center have been made in a retro style.

Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik

The main summer attraction on the Volga is, of course, ship cruises. Many have their own small yachts, boats and speedboats. The photo below shows the pier at the Koprino Bay Park Hotel in Yaroslavl Region, near Rybinsk.

Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik

Building a bridge across the Volga is not an easy task and not all towns and cities have the two banks connected. But, in summer, ferry crossings are launched in many places.

Vladimir Vyatkin / Sputnik
Vladimir Vyatkin / Sputnik

In many cities, there are also sandy beaches right in the center, where people hang out around the clock in summer. The photo below shows a beach soccer game in Samara at sunset.

Sergei Savostyanov / TASS
Sergei Savostyanov / TASS

In Nizhny Novgorod, the Oka River flows into the wide Volga, forming a picturesque spit.

Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

In Nizhny Novgorod, meanwhile, you can ride jet skis with a view of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral.

Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

And what sunsets there are on the Volga River! Below, citizens watch the sun set in the city of Kineshma, Ivanovo Region.

Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

In Soviet times, several hydroelectric power plants were built on the Volga and several reservoirs were formed, while the old villages and monasteries quite literally went under water. The photo shows a flooded bell tower in the town of Kalyazin, Tver Region.

Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik
Maxim Bogodvid / Sputnik

The photo below from the Samara city beach shows the color of the water in the Volga River – dark brownish, due to the muddy, sandy bottom.

Igor Aveyenko / Sputnik
Igor Aveyenko / Sputnik

In some places, the right bank of the Volga is steep and there are even cliffs, so local people do rock climbing. The photo below shows the Samarskaya Luka National Park in Samara Region.

Yegor Aleyev / Sputnik
Yegor Aleyev / Sputnik

In the Volga Delta, near Astrakhan, you can even spot lotus blossoms!

Valery Melnikov / Sputnik
Valery Melnikov / Sputnik

And the Volga gulls are in no way inferior in size and loudness to the sea gulls! 

Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS

So, do you already want to go to the Volga River?

Vitaly Timkiv / Sputnik
Vitaly Timkiv / Sputnik
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